The
National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports
special batch of corps members has successfully completed a two-year training
programme on the Gambia Skill Qualification (GSQ) on rice production level 1.
The
graduation ceremony, which took place at Sapu Agricultural Station in Central
River Region (CRR), was graced by senior government officials from the Ministry
of Youth and Sports, Governors, head of Agricultural department in CRR as well
as other satellite institutions under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, NYSS
Board members, partners and parents of the graduating youths.
Delivering
his keynote address at the graduation ceremony, Sainey Drammeh, a senior
official from the Ministry of Youth and Sport, said the ceremony marked the
farewell of the special batch of NYSS trained on GSQ on rice production level
1.
He
said it was quite significant, timely and regarded as a milestone in the annals
of NYSS in the New Gambia.
It
was to witness the passing out of these dynamic young people, who were inducted
into the scheme to acquire among others marketable skills for self-employment
and employability.
“The
previous government came up with this laudable initiative of establishing NYSS
yet, there was not much attention given to it as expected for the past five
years and NYSS cannot be more relevant today given the challenges,” he said.
For
his part, Famara Badjie, Chairman of the National Youth Service Scheme, said
the National Youth Service Scheme is a subverted and voluntary institution
under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and ensures that youth
development as well as empowerment is delivered to the youth.
Mr
Badjie said the scheme that was launched in 1996 has registered success stories
in its efforts in focusing on the attitude of young people who require skills
training.
He
said their constraints notwithstanding; the NYSS could not continue to deliver
its responsibilities and mandate of moulding the youth in promoting community
development and self-reliance.
He
said they hoped with the new Government and Ministry of Youth and Sports, their
activities would be given due attention.